Ryan Leaf Sets the Record Straight about That Junior Seau Rookie Hazing Story | The Rich Eisen Show

Rich Eisen Show guest host Ryan Leaf recalls his first-ever NFL training camp experience with the Chargers after being selected #2 overall in the 1998 NFL Draft and sets the record straight about a hazing incident involving Junior Seau that has been widely misreported over the years.
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#RichEisenShow #NFL #Chargers

[@Catanman39]

Ryan’s going to need his own show here pretty soon…he’s made an unbelievable career pivot. Love his insight, always love when he fills in for Rich.

[@oN3xShOtxkilL]

He’s storytelling is really pure and you can believe him

[@sghedrn]

Man! I have to say I have a huge amount respect for how Ryan has embraced who he was an overcome obstacles in his life. He makes me believe you can come back from anything!

[@2384539]

don't let this video fool you, dude never watched film his entire professional career. There is a real story out there that is more legit. Junior has passed and can't defend himself. He had temper issues his entire life.

[@heathclark318]

Was thinking the very same thing. More fuel for our respective fires. Great stuff

[@bmooch1]

Agreed. He's a good speaker. Much rather him a broadcaster than 50% of the trash that's doing it now

[@bitburg40]

@@2384539 Junior doesn’t need defending, Ryan was defending him. Did you listen at all?

[@age3398]

Seau is one of my all time favorite players and the main reason I became a Charger fan.

[@fourthdownback6035]

I love Ryan Leaf. He is a testament to the personal growth and work we should all being doing, and he has turned what I recalled as a cautionary tale into one of my favorite comeback stories.

[@gennehring1]

The most unbelievable part of this story is Ryan studied film.

[@bobxiong4516]

i fukn LOL when he said that too.

[@gregvgs3]

Lmfao

[@flelite3994]

lol

[@jermainewashington7447]

Him and Jamarcus were study partners

[@yoshit9819]

Redemption is a wonderful thing. So happy to see him doing well. God bless him.

[@Fakeaorta]

Seau was a beast. i used to watch him play HS basketball and football. He looked like a man among boys playing HS sports!

[@so-calninja7530]

O’side represent! 🏴‍☠️

[@lexnorwood6949]

Dude I love rich eisen but there has never been nor will there ever be a better fill in for rich than Ryan leaf.

[@davidtrotter3836]

After watching these I gotta say. This dude is pretty cool. Great stories and straight talk. Glad he didn’t end up a joke like they played him out to be.

[@sinistersageness]

He is a joke dude is a drug addict and backstabbed an organization that made him the richest rookie in history at the time.

[@CachuchasOSFNYCHHSK]

"Football is 99% intimidation, and this kid's intimidated. He'll never make it." - Junior Seau to Steve Scholfield, my former editor at the North County Times in north SD County after Leaf's first season.

[@milesduggan]

Wow

[@johantrenier1685]

I miss the NC Times.

[@johnm994]

​@johantrenier1685 I don't. Their writers were so biased and always voted the NC teams in HS higher than they should have been.

[@johantrenier1685]

@@johnm994 They covered SW Riverside HS sports pretty well. We received that addition in Murrieta. I

[@angelcanez4426]

Ryan Leaf is the best guest host

[@deezyD93]

Damn dude, Ryan Leaf is actually great to listen to. He’s very well spoken and has a lot of interesting stories to tell.

[@Stevesautopartsify]

Ryan needs his own show!

[@craigchapman8220]

He needs a show.

[@CrazyHank36]

It's a shame Leaf didn't have this maturity when he was drafted, he could have been a Hall of Fame QB, God knows he had the talent. I'm glad he worked through all his problems and like others have said, he needs his own show.

[@markjackson6134]

He was a slightly better Marino in talent. But give him credit in the way he's matured, owns it, and goes out of his way to talk to others (including young athletes) about his past self-inflicted mistakes. Oh, and say he'd made it w/o this transformation,...he'd be HOF Richard, not the person he is now.

[@sheldonator]

I honestly wonder if he was dropped in a difference franchise whether it would have played out the same

[@CrazyHank36]

@@sheldonator I'm not sure, The Spanos family wasn't always the best owners to work for

[@sheldonator]

@CrazyHank36 he did say he wasn't mature enough to handle it, and it started at the combine before the draft, so who knows. It's hard to believe that if he went to a good coach, he'd have been better off. Tough deal, good to see him bouncing back tho

[@CrazyHank36]

@@sheldonator Sad thing is, he had a lot of talent

[@LK-bz9sk]

Love it when Ryan sits in the Rich’s air chair and chops it up with the guys. He always is interesting to listen to.

[@thefix2]

I have so much respect for Ryan. He’s turned his experience into a positive & has come full circle in his life. I love the inside stories!!

[@df6148]

Mike Tyson 🥊 and Ryan Leaf 🍃 Are so well spoken now you never would’ve thought of how far they’ve come from. Happy for them both! Life is Crazy.

[@papashango3880]

Ryan leaf doing a good job keep it up!

[@Ser_Arthur_Dayne]

People who love to hate on Ryan Leaf either have never had trouble in life or have had so much trouble in life, they have to "feel better" by enjoying other people's sufferings... I can't say I have done & gone through everything he has, but I can certainly both sympathize & empathize with his sorrows & suffering & journey through life. And remember- just because someone has done a Bad Thing in life, doesn't (necessarily) make them a Bad Person ... If I was given the chance to coach a football team, he could be on my Staff anytime.

[@efg1311]

This cat definitely has 9 lives. I was driving the other day and he was doing the radio broadcast for the playoff game. I’m not sure if that’s a San Diego thing on a national broadcast but he was great. And he’s great every time he sits in on RE’s show. Man this dude has overcome some really low points in his life and bounced back. I’m a former Chargers fan (they’re dead to me since they moved to LA) and Ryan Leaf was (probably still is for those who don’t know) the ultimate failure and disappointment for all of us. But now I find myself rooting for him and he really seems like he’s found some positive momentum in his life. That’s awesome.

[@btrainbraydeboisseranc7570]

Much love Ryan keep fighting the good fight bro 👍🙏

[@tribe1]

RIP One of the best

[@lumbago784]

I was JUST telling my wife about this like 2 days ago. Pretty sure I had it up to like 30K for that dinner. Amazing how things can snowball over time. Leaf is a great story too. Dude turned his life around big time. Kudos.

[@keenannorris3309]

I heard Seau held Leaf for ransom. I've been telling that story for years.

[@LuckyNikitaBoba]

I used to hate Ryan way back then. I like him now. 😆

[@paulmadkow9143]

Me2.

[@kimthompson5830]

Dude is good. Ryan you are an inspiration. Awesome job

[@zeppelinmexicano]

I did feel badly for Junior when the Pats missed 19-0 the way they did. He was great that year, and quite old, and I got the feeling that this was his last hurrah. Talk about a ball buster way to go out for one of the best players to ever suit up.

[@jak3140]

Ik felt the same too, it sucks! And yes, junior really wanted a ring. He’s in the Hall of Fame. But Junior is one of the greats that ever played the game R. I. P. Buddy it saddens me, such a great guy, I grew up with junior in Oceanside, I know junior personally.

[@mlbolts72]

Thx 4 the memories ryan Go chargers 🏉⚡️💙

[@CaryNuisanceVideos]

Ryan's got some charisma, I like him.

[@ADeep007]

My favourite guest host. Love it when Ryan is in.

[@joebrumfield3148]

Ryan Leaf has turned into the GOAT mentor

[@charlesedwards1109]

I am so glad to see Ryan turn his whole life around. In a world where people love to see people crash and burn, I love to see a good turn-it-around, underdog story! God bless you and continue to do what you do brother!

[@mikekavanagh]

Yes, the underdog 2nd overall pick who snorted all his cash up his nose.

[@jamesb1988]

I am always amazed at the size of Ryan hands... straight up MITTS.

[@mirzapa]

“Heartbreak”

[@rickpeterson8825]

Really good dude , good of him to clear up the Junior Seau story !

[@comicbookninja5268]

RIP Junior Seau

[@MustangMike012]

The story I heard was the entire Chargers team went to dinner and left Leaf with the bill. Leaf started complaining about it and Seau told him to man up and pay I.

[@thecurbsidechoir8783]

it is crazy how normal and rational this guy sounds today, considering how bad he imploded when he played. it also makes you wonder about how unfair some of the reporting might have been. just weird.

[@MikeJennings76]

It's really too bad the younger Ryan Leaf didn't have someone exactly like todays Ryan Leaf to mentor him way back then.. It's admirable that although he made bad choices & didn't capitalize on his own opportunity in his own life, he is still giving back & trying to help these younger guys that might have the same mentality as he did back then avoid making the same detrimental mistakes he made. Being so open and candid about ones own character flaws is extremely difficult to do, even if your just privately talking to a shrink behind closed doors, let alone, doing it on a huge platform for the world to see and hear. Much respect to him for that, & after watching this, I gotta come clean myself, as a lifelong Charger fan, I am guilty of buying into all the medias Ryan Leaf sensationalism & hyperbole and formed my opinions about him as a person based on how the media always framed him in a light that made him look like a complete douchebag of a person. I couldn't have been more wrong about him and feel like I owe Ryan Leaf a huge apology. He's truly a class act.

[@jerseyforhawks]

Leaf's got banquet stories.😅😅

[@irahwebster1088]

Thirty-one million dollars for a complete bust! Unreal!

[@xxxxbigrich5752]

His first mistake is not correcting it I mean that year he was in front of the cameras every week.

[@ORagnar]

Crazy... This is why you can't rely on newspaper stories for the truth. 12/9/23, 4:52 p.m.

[@Im_T.O.]

He's a perfect example of too much too soon.

[@HamedKhatiz]

I thought you meant that you complained to the management of the Union Tribune. Probably did that LOL.

[@brianafrojack5215]

5 Grand was a lot back in 1998, just had to worry about me $20.00 fed me for a week. The good old days in my early 20's

[@johnselwitz5362]

If adjusted for inflation, $5,000 in 1998 would be the equivalent of almost 10 grand today

[@matttilley8620]

Why didn't Leaf stop the rumour train? I also heard him say that one of his biggest rookie mistakes was buying a multi-million dollar mansion rather than a modest townhome; reason being is he preferred to be in his mansion and didn't want to spend time practicing and preparing. That doesn't really jive with him saying he wanted to watch film rather than get to know his teammates. These are just observations. I don't know this guy, but from what I've seen he seems like a super smart individual who has gone through a lot of hardship. I like his sense of humour and appreciate his intelligence. These are just questions I have.

[@jamesb1988]

Because acknowledging/denying something is just gonna fuel the people that think you're full of it... he was in a no win situation, but I think he did the right thing by keeping his mouth shut.

[@forever.endeavor]

He didn’t say he didn’t wanna spend time practicing and preparing he said he didn’t wanna leave his beach front mansion cause it was such a nice house you wouldn’t wanna leave it and he didn’t . He then said he should have purchased a modest home so he would have worked harder to have his mansion in the future, he was also speaking in hindsight.

[@vuthearithkeary4704]

I almost hate leaf but I had to watch this. A rookie hazing from jr.

[@robertprady885]

A bill like that is straight stupidity. Just blowing through money.

[@lbc562jb]

Man dude, the more and more he talks about stuff you see why his career went the way it went and I also see why he did some of the stuff he did

[@sleepwalkusa135]

He was pissed about how many pills that $5000 could have bought him

[@michaelg7904]

I actually read that article and it changed the way I saw things. It’s cool that he’s clearing up the story now. Too bad the media is still changing things as they see fit.

[@KCJones-gg1zs]

Alexa play rumors lol

[@Yotsukaido]

The Chargers were playing the long game. Leaf was brought in to sink the team so that they could get LT later down the line.

[@eshep71]

'I don't remember having to buy anything' That can't be why he was so entitled can it? Lol

[@keithyates2697]

How many games did you start for the chargers like one so you think you were part of the team joke

[@RaiderX948]

Listen closely and you'll hear Ryan contradict himself.

[@andrewoolman]

Ryan leaf at least studied unlike Jamarcus Russell

[@gabriele7059]

Ryan ain't no Jawalrus!

[@kevindaniels7824]

He's not telling the truth

[@chuckfan1]

And you have all the inside intel? Ohhh. That's what we thought Quit being a d o u c h e

[@joshuaburton2120]

Pat McAfee is the most trusted name in sports media

[@jimdellavecchia4594]

I guarantee I know the players who bought Cristal!! Henny too

[@Eric-nu4dn]

Pile jumper

[@lambdalambdalambda257]

Funny how the only other person who could really confirm this is dead

[@kywinsupernaw9615]

Bro you watched film

[@michaelhoapili4688]

I don't believe this guy

[@greatsoup2803]

Just remember. Ryan did beat his wife a couple years ago.

[@jamesb1988]

And by wide he means wife, not a wide receiver.

[@kobyashee1832]

I gotta be honest…I simply don’t believe Mr. Leaf’s account of this incident. Unfortunately, Junior is no longer with us to help set the record straight but many people with direct knowledge of the situation commented at/near the time of the incident and had virtually the same account as the one Mr. Leaf is now attempting to refute. It’s quite self-serving and given that Mr. Leaf will always have questions surrounding his credibility, I just don’t buy it. Instead, I’m willing to believe the narrative that Junior may have taken his credit card and spent $5K of his money. Rather than talk to Junior about it like a man he instead went to management and complained. That’s a no-no in the NFL and Mr. Leaf’s foolishly impulsive rant to management forever maligned him to the rest of the team. From that point moving forward he was increasingly alienated by his teammates. Cool story tho bro 😎

[@Paul-ew5st]

You think the real story is Seau stole his credit card and you still blame Leaf? How many chromosomes do you have?

[@chuckfan1]

You have no idea what happened or didn't happen, so stop speculating And "bro"? What, are you 12 years old

[@corey2232]

Your preferred story is that a player you look up to STOLE a young, new kid's credit card & spent his money? And you think that makes Leaf look bad? The mental gymnastics are insane... You should hope Leaf's version of events is correct, because at least in that scenario Seau looks much better.

[@stephenwhite2491]

All time flop list. Name is in the history books

[@Ocean_619]

As a 50 y/o San Diego Chargers fan I don think Ryan Leaf has any respect from Chargers fans to say the name Junior Seau! Leaf was the greatest mistake the Chargers ever made and Junior Seau will go down in history as one of the best ever!!!!

[@sazaraki]

Relax and grow up. The man has been accepting of, and taken responsibility for, his mistakes and problems. He's learned from his past, and grew up because of it. Sounds like you could take that lesson yourself . . . to _learn from the past_ to become a better *_future you._*

[@mwt3579]

Amazing you could watch that clip and completely miss the point of it. Ryan was agreeing with you.

[@Zappbrannigan83]

As a 30 year charger fan. I hereby give my respect unto Ryan Leaf, he can say any name he wants, especially when it's clarifying a story and makes Seau look good and extolling him as one of the greatest ever.

[@fuccckckkkkckkck]

You are 50 years old and couldn’t comprehend where Ryan was going with this… Like yeah the guy was a bust for us but whatever we still ended up having a great run for the 00s decade right after him and Ryan is like one of the few famous Chargers supporters we got out here after we left SD. The dude if anything is probably going around trying to help the younger players from turning out like he did. Dudes making a positive impact

[@Octa973]

50 years old and can't even comprehend what is being said in this video. Says a whole lot about you lol

[@richarddevine205]

I find it disgusting that this thief and NFL washout has Jr in his mouth. Part of the team and felt that he could steal more.

[@Boogie1904]

Too much hate in your heart. Chill out.

[@houseofchinn6112]

@@Boogie1904 he's a bot